Device for holding or binding loose or removable sheets of paper



'PATENTED JAN. 5, 1904.

R. G. WHITLOGK. DEVICE FOR HOLDING 0R BINDING LOOSE 0R REMOVABLE,

SHEETS OF PAPER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 5. 1902.

N0 MODEL,

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o0 ("ammo wsmfm D E Ai norms PETERS Wi Chas-s 63 UNITED STATES Patented January 5, 1904.

RALPH G. WHITLOOK, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

DEVICE FOR HOLDING OR BINDING LOOSE OR REMOVABLE SHEETS OF PAPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 749,122, dated January 5, 1904.

Application filed July 5, 1902- Serial No. 114,346. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, RALPH G. WHITLOCK, of the city of Los Angeles, in the countyof Los Angeles, in the State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for Holding or Binding Loose or Removable Sheets of Paper, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description or specification, reference being had to the annexed sheet of drawings and to the letters marked thereon.

This invention, which relates to a device for holding or binding together bookwise loose or removable sheets of paper, consists of a holder for such loose papers which is readily capable of being opened or closed by drawing through a short distance a sliding bolt attached movably to the back of the device. Upon this bolt catches or tongues are formed'or attached, which when in their position of contact with the paper-retainers hold the paper-retainers closed rigidly upon or against the back of the device and within the covers of the device. The paper-retainers each consist of a curved member and a straight member, respectively, both connected together hingewise and pivoted to one side of the back of the device. These members are held in their closed position by the disjoined ends of each of the two parts of which each paper-retainer consists, being constructed so as to constitute when pressed together a wedging clasp. When the two disjoined ends of each such retainer are pressed into engagement with each other, the loose papers are secured within the device bookwise and the retainers are held down or upon the back of the device by the tongues of the sliding bolt. In order to remove any of the loose papers from the device, all that is necessary is to withdraw the sliding bar and its catches or tongues out of engagement with the straight member of each of the paper-retainers, and then by unclasping the disjoined ends of each retainer the retainers are thus opened, when any papers required can be removed from the device or other papers as readily placed therein.

Upon the accompanying drawings, Figure l is an end elevation of the device constituting my invention, showing the back of the device as opened outward and downward from the straight portion of the retainers, indicating also the straight part of the retainers in dotted lines in the position that part of the retainer occupies when opened out for admitting of loose papers being either placed in or removed from the device. Fig. 2 is a plan of the device, showing the several parts thereof in the same positions as in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the device in the folded up or closed condition with loose papers therein. Fig. 4 is a plan of that portion of the device constituting the lower middle part thereof and showing as applied thereto a bolt and padlock for retaining the device as locked and arranged for preventing the papers from being removed from the device excepting by the person who possesses the key of the padlock. Figs. 5 and 6, respectively, are side and end elevations of one of the retainers, on an enlarged scale, particularly showing the "wedge-shaped clasp for fastening and admitting of the opening of the same.

Upon Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings the back of the device is marked A, and the cover thereof is marked A. The back A of the device consists of a sheet of thin metal. Portions marked B, at one side of which and as more particularly shown at Figs. 1 and 2, are turned up over and upon the upper surface of the flat sliding bolt 0, which bolt 0 is turned upward into a projecting thumb and finger piece, as shown at Figs. 1 to 4. Slits E are formed at one side of the flat sliding bolt 0, as seen in plan at Fig. 2, andthrough these slits headed screws or rivets F are passed, by which the sliding bolt 0 is retained in its sliding position beneath and within the overturned portions B and the plate A. By this arrangement the extent of sliding movement of the flat bolt 0 is limited to what is necessary for admitting of the upraised and horizontal portions of the catches D D of the sliding bolt 0 being either'pushed inward over the straight back parts G of the retainers when the device is in the closed and locked condition, as shown at Figs. 3 and 4, or for being withdrawn from engagement with the straight parts G of the retainers, as shown at Figs. 1 and 2. The straightparts G of the retainers, as well as the curved parts (marked H) of the retainers, are both fastened to the side I of the back A by means of a round wire J, which is passed through the tubular overturned part of the side I of the back A, in which recesses or openings are formed to admit of each retainer constituted of the parts G H being placed in the back of the device and retained therein, when the wire J is pushed through the tubular hole in the side I of the back A and also through the corresponding holes in the two portions of each retainer G H. Thus the two portions G H of each retainer are securely held in the device and are capable of the requisite movement upon the wire J for being opened or closed for enabling papers to be placed in or taken out of the device. The upper end of each half of each retainer G H is constructed in the manner shown at all the drawings excepting Fig. 4that is to say, the part H is formed of a somewhat tapered nose K, Figs. 2 and 6, while the curved part L of the straight member G of each retainer constituted of the two parts G H is formed with a small tapered or wedge-shaped opening or recess, so that by pressing these tapered or wedge-shaped parts together in such manner that the nose K enters into the opening or recess L, these parts, when so pressed, becoming by reason of the wedge form clasped together with the requisite tightness, and when the parts of the device are moved together in the manner described the whole is finally fastened by placing the bolt M, Fig. 4, in the holes N, (shown in Fig. 2,) as formed in the back A and in the sliding bolt 0, respectively. By placing the clasp-bar of the padlock 0, Fig. 4, in the hole of the bolt M and locking the padlock the entire device is incapable of being opened until the padlock O is unlocked and, with the bolt M, is removed from the device.

It is explained that the clasping ends of the two parts G and H of the retainers are curved, as shown in the drawings, the object of so shaping these ends being to admit of the loose leaves of paper being turned over to or from either member G or H of the retainers whenever it is required to open them for either removing papers from the device or for placing papers therein at any required position in or among the other papers held or contained in the device.

With respect to the upraised portions of the retaining-catches D, fastened upon the flat sliding bolt 0, I desire it to be understood that the side of each catch D, which when the parts are in the position shown at Fig. 3, are next to the inner parts of the retainers, and which is the right-hand edge of.

each catch D, is made slightly tapered, so that they press into close and rigid contact with the retainers when the flat bolt 0 is slid inward.

At Fig. 2 I have shown three retainers constituted of the parts G H; but I desire it to be understood that two only of such retainers may be used and that, as the drawings show, in order to place loose papers in the device each loose paper is punched with holes therein corresponding to the positions of the retainers upon which the loose papers are to be placed.

Having now described the nature of my said invention and the best system, mode, or manner I am at present acquainted with for carrying the same into practical effect, I desire to observein conclusion that what I consider novel and original, and therefore claim as the invention to be secured to me by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. The device for holding or containing loose or separate sheets of paper bookwise, consisting of the back of metal or equivalent material, the sliding bolt and catches thereon attached movably to and operating upon said back, the paper-retainers attached and held by a wire or hinge-bar, the wire or hinge-bar, the cover attached to said back inclosing all the operative parts of the device, together with the loose or separate sheets of paper held therein, the catches of the said sliding plate being arranged to engage the retainers, substantially as hereinbefore described.

2. The device for holding or containing loose or separate sheets of paper bookwise, consisting of the back of metal or equivalent materal, the sliding bolt and catches thereon attached to and operating in or upon said back, and cooperating with the paperretainers attached to and held hingewise in said back, the retainers, the cover attached to said back, holding over and inclosing all the operative parts of the device together with the loose or separate sheets of paper placed therein, the catches of the said sliding plate being arranged to engage the retainers, also the bolt and padlock for locking the device.

3. The paper-retainerconsistingofastraight member and a curved member, each connected to the other and to the back of the device hingewise, the back the sliding bolts mounted on said back, the curved member being that on which the loose papers are carried, and the straight member being that on which the sliding bolt and one of its tongues operate, the sliding bolt and tongues, the terminals of the retainers constructed as a wedging-clasp, the said parts all operating in relation to each other in the manner and for the purposes substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 6th day of June, A. D. 1902, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RALPH G. WHITLOCK. 

